Silas kept his expression neutral—cool, almost bored—but inside he was grinning like an idiot. The attention didn't faze him; if anything, it was amusing. He could feel the stares prickling against his skin like static.
Rias glanced up at him as they turned the corner toward the old school building, her thumb brushing absentmindedly over his knuckles.
"You're awfully calm about this," she murmured, voice low enough that only he and Akeno could hear.
Silas tilted his head toward her, purple eyes glinting with mischief. "Why wouldn't I be? Two beautiful girls on my arms, walking me to tea like I'm royalty? Most guys would kill for this."
Akeno let out a delighted little laugh, pressing closer so her shoulder bumped his arm. "Ara ara, listen to him~ So modest. And here I thought you'd be the type to get flustered."
"Flustered?" Silas raised an eyebrow, looking down at her with exaggerated innocence. "Me? Nah. Takes a lot more than hand-holding to rattle me."
Rias's blush, which had mostly faded, crept back in at the edges. "You say that now," she teased softly, "but keep throwing compliments like that and we might test your limits."
Hearing that, Silas almost pointed at her like' Get a load of this guy. ' but held himself back. He knew they were both fake demons. In the series, they'd wrap themselves around Issei for the lamest shit.
' He is not getting anything. Not that I hate the guy or anything. ' he thought.
They reached the old building's entrance. The heavy wooden door creaked open under Akeno's free hand, revealing the familiar staircase leading up to the Occult Research Club room. The scent of freshly brewed tea—rich, dark, and strong—already drifted down to meet them.
As they climbed the stairs, still hand-in-hand, Silas finally spoke again, voice casual but curious.
"So… what's the plan for tonight's stray hunt? You said it's not too dangerous, but I'm guessing there's still a protocol. Do I just watch from the sidelines, or…?"
Rias squeezed his hand once, reassuring.
"You can watch, participate, or do whatever feels right. My peerage is used to handling strays—Koneko's strength, Kiba's speed, Akeno's lightning, my Power of Destruction. We'll contain it quickly. But if you want to get involved…" She glanced up at him, eyes sparkling. "I'd love to see what you can do. No pressure, though."
Akeno giggled again, leaning in so her breath brushed his ear. "And if you decide to show off a little… I won't complain~"
Silas chuckled low in his throat. "Noted. I'll try not to disappoint."
They reached the top landing. The club room door stood slightly ajar, warm lamplight spilling out along with the soft clink of porcelain and the murmur of voices—Kiba and Koneko already inside, probably setting things up.
Rias paused just outside, turning to face him fully. She didn't let go of his hand.
"Thank you for coming," she said quietly, sincere. "It's… nice having you around."
Akeno mirrored her on the other side, violet eyes soft for once beneath the teasing. "Yes… very nice."
Silas looked between them—two of the strongest, most beautiful devils in Kuoh, blushing faintly, holding his hands like they didn't want to let go.
He smiled—slow, genuine, warmer than his usual smirk. "Wouldn't miss it,"
With that, they stepped inside together, the door clicked shut behind them.
Rias released Silas's hand first, her fingers lingering for just a second longer than necessary before she hurried around the low table to stand behind Koneko and Kiba. Akeno followed suit with graceful steps, heading straight for the small tea cart in the corner where a porcelain pot still steamed gently, the rich aroma of black tea filling the room like a warm embrace.
"I'm sure you've met Kiba already," Rias said, placing both hands lightly on Koneko's shoulders from behind. "He's my Knight."
Yuuto Kiba rose smoothly from his seat on the opposite sofa, that ever-polite, princely smile in place. His blond hair caught the lamplight as he extended a hand across the table.
"We never got the chance for a proper introduction earlier," Kiba said, voice calm and warm. "But now that the president has formally introduced us… it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Silas."
Silas met the handshake firmly—two strong grips, brief but respectful.
"Same here," he replied, matching Kiba's easy tone. "You move like someone who knows exactly how sharp his blade is. Respect."
Kiba's smile deepened just a fraction—acknowledgment without ego—before he sat back down.
Rias shifted her attention, stepping directly behind Koneko and resting her palms gently atop the tiny Rook's white-haired head. Koneko didn't flinch; she simply paused mid-bite of a thick slice of strawberry shortcake balanced on a delicate plate, fork hovering.
"And this is Koneko," Rias continued, voice fond. "My Rook. Don't let her size fool you—she's incredibly strong."
Koneko lifted her golden-hazel eyes slowly, meeting Silas's purple gaze. A faint blush dusted her cheeks almost immediately—barely noticeable unless you were looking for it. She gave a single, small nod, then returned to her cake, taking another careful bite as if the interaction hadn't happened.
Silas chuckled softly, leaning one hip against the edge of the table.
"I've met her before. Guess she really isn't much for words."
"Yeah… she isn't," Rias agreed with a gentle laugh, ruffling Koneko's hair once before letting go. The little Rook didn't protest, but her ears (hidden) twitched faintly under the white strands.
"Well, now that we all know each other properly," Rias said, turning back to Silas with a bright smile, "let's enjoy our break."
She gestured toward the largest sofa—the plush, deep-red one positioned like a throne in the center of the room—and guided him over with a light touch at the small of his back.
Silas let her lead, dropping down onto the cushions with casual ease. Without the slightest hesitation, Rias sat right beside him—close enough that their thighs brushed, her skirt riding up just a fraction as she crossed her legs toward him.
Akeno returned moments later, balancing two delicate teacups on saucers. She handed one to Silas first—black tea, steaming, no sugar, exactly as he liked it—then passed the second to Rias before settling gracefully on Silas's other side, sandwiching him comfortably between the two heiresses.
Koneko stayed on her perch across the table, nibbling cake in silence, while Kiba poured himself a cup and watched the scene with quiet amusement.
Silas took a slow sip of the tea—strong, bitter, perfect—and felt the warmth spread through his chest.
' She's surprisingly bold,' he thought, glancing sideways at Rias. 'Sitting this close, initiating contact in front of her whole peerage… Guess she's really hoping I'll be the wildcard to help her break that engagement. Unfortunately, I'm not in her peerage, so no Rating Game participation for me. But I'll still help her in the end—can't let some arranged-marriage bullshit ruin someone like her.'
He set the cup down on the table with a soft clink and turned toward Rias, resting one arm along the back of the sofa behind her shoulders—close, but not quite touching.
"Tell me, Rias," he said, voice low and curious, "what's your origin? I know you're some kind of heiress—that much is obvious—but I'd like to hear it from you."
Rias met his gaze steadily, blue-green eyes sparkling with a mix of pride and something softer—vulnerability, perhaps.
"I'm Rias Gremory," she began, voice steady but warm.
"Heiress to the Gremory clan—one of the 72 Pillars of the Underworld. My family has always been… prominent. My father, Zeoticus Gremory, is the current head, and my mother, Venelana, was a Bael before she married in." She paused, a faint smile touching her lips.
"We're known for our Power of Destruction—raw, overwhelming demonic energy that can erase almost anything it touches. It's been passed down through our line for generations."
She leaned back slightly, shoulder brushing his arm.
"But that's the formal version. The truth is… I'm the next in line for a lot of responsibilities I didn't ask for. " Her tone stayed even, but Silas caught the brief flicker of frustration in her eyes. "That's why I transferred here to the human world—to run my own peerage, build my own strength, and maybe… find a way out."
Silas listened, not missing anything. ' Well at least she's not shameful telling me the whole truth. Unlike how they depict her in some fanfics. Bro they hated this chick a few years ago. Not to mention Uraraka , making her a gold digger in fics' he thought.
Bringing himself back to the conversation. He turned to her. " Type shi—
TO BE CONTINUED